Artur Menezes

Into the Blues: Building Blocks for the Intermediate Player

Hoping to learn the blues from scratch, or tired of playing the same old licks? This course was made for you! Learn and master a broad range of practical techniques that every Blues player needs — form, variations, turnarounds, entrances and exits, hallmark phrasing and more. Additionally, you’ll walk away being able to play licks in the styles of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Albert King, and B.B. King — a great set of tools for any blues player!

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Course Details
30 Lessons
3 Hour+ Runtime
Tabs (gpx, pdf)
Playalong Tracks
HD+ Video
90 day guarantee
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Meet Artur Menezes

Artur Menezes has taken the Blues world by storm with his energy as a Blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Awards include: the "Gibson/Albert King Award" for Best Guitarist by the Blues Foundation; 3rd prize in the International Blues Challenge; and Grand Prize in a contest sponsored by Ernie Ball at the Crossroads Guitar Festival. Originally from Brazil, Artur plays traditional and modern blues but mixes in other styles to achieve his own signature sound.

A touring and recording musician, Artur has shared the stage with Joe Satriani, opened for Bobby Rush, and Buddy Guy, and released several albums and EPs.

Into the Blues

Building Blocks for the Intermediate Player

Starting with the fundamentals, moving to the licks of famed blues players, and finishing with modern alterations, this course takes you step-by-step through different aspects of playing the blues. Master them, and you’ll use them forever, whether on stage or at your next jam session!

This course offers 30 lessons covering 3+ hours of material in step-by-step, digestible presentation.

Full Course Listing

Best Suited for Intermediate Players

This course offers 30 lessons covering 3+ hours of material in step-by-step, digestible presentation. View the full course outline below.

1

Series Introduction

Artur discusses his new course, what you can expect to learn, and what you should know going in.

6:28 Runtime

0.0 Difficulty

2

Harmony & the 12 Bar Blues

Understanding the form of the 12 bar blues is foundational to blues guitar playing. Internalizing where the chords land and understanding the harmony is key to mastering the traditional blues form.

5:11 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

3

Fast Change and Minor Blues

We've learned the standard 12 bar form. There are many different feels that fit within that basic form. In this lesson, Artur takes a look at a variation in the 12 bar blues: the slow change and fast change concepts.

6:32 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

4

Slow Blues

Although a very common type of blues, don't be fooled by the word "slow" in slow blues. Slow does not mean easy! In fact, it can be a challenging feel to master. Artur gives us his take on the slow blues.

9:14 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

5

Shuffle

The shuffle is one of the core feels of blues. In this lesson Artur talks about how to "feel" the shuffle, and gives some ideas of what to play over it.

3:33 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

6

Turnarounds

Turnarounds are lines played over the bars 11 and 12. They're commonly played on blues tunes and their function is to conclude the "sentence"(round). Like when you're reading a book and you finish a paragraph or a chapter.

8:48 Runtime

0.0 Difficulty

7

Minor Pentatonic Scale (Shape 1) + Licks

To improvise over a blues tune, major or minor, the Minor Pentatonic Scale is a foundational component. In this lesson Artur explains the scale, and will teach you the 1st shape and give you 4 licks that will make you sound bluesy!

12:30 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

8

Minor Pentatonic Scale (Shape 2) + Licks

Now on to the 2nd shape of the minor pentatonic scale. Get ready for the scale plus 4 in position licks that will make you sound amazing!

8:00 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

9

Minor Pentatonic Scale (Shape 3) + Licks

Another scale shape, another 4 licks! This time it's shape 3 of the minor pentatonic scale.

8:18 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

10

Minor Pentatonic Scale (Shape 4) + Licks

The 4th shape add yet more flavors to your minor pentatonic scale licks. Again, we learn the shape and learn 4 cool licks to go along with it!

7:11 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

11

Minor Pentatonic Scale (Shape 5) + Licks

In this lesson Artur teaches us the last shape of the minor pentatonic scale. And as with the other shapes, Artur will give us 4 licks to go along with shape 5.

6:33 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

12

Bends and Vibratos

Bends and Vibrato are some of if not the most important things to consider when you express yourself through guitar. They are what make you sound like you. In this lesson Artur shows us some vibrato and bending techniques you can learn, and in time they will help you develop your own sound!

9:10 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

13

Intro Licks - From the Top and From the Five

Have you ever attended to a blues jam session and heard someone yell "Shuffle in D, from the five! 1, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4..."? What is that! In this lesson Artur teaches you those expressions and licks to start shuffle and slow tunes.

7:58 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

14

Ending Licks

Finishing strong is very important when playing the blues! In this lesson, Artur explains how a blues tune usually ends and I'll give you some licks for this.

8:25 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

15

BB King Style Licks

It's important to copy the masters in order to understand the blues language and with time develop your own phrasing. In this video I'll show some licks from BB King.

6:04 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

View this Lesson
16

Albert King Style Licks

It's important to listen to and emulate the masters in order to understand blues language and feel. In this lesson, Artur shows us some licks from the legendary bluesman Albert King.

7:16 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

17

Stevie Ray Vaughn Style Licks

When we study the blues greats, it's inevitable that their style will seep into our own playing. Just like we can hear Hendrix in Stevie Ray Vaughn's playing, Stevie Ray's playing can find it's way into yours! Here are some Stevie Ray style licks from Artur to get you on your way.

13:58 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

18

Chord Substitutions

Using movements and chord substitution are very important to make the song more musical, mature and less boring for the players and for the audience. In this lesson Artur focuses on the "half diminished" chord substitution in a slow blues, major key, using chormaticism to move the chords.

10:28 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

19

Soloing with the Chord Substitution

Now Artur shows us an interesting way of improvising using chords and their arpeggios as the basis of the solo. He also shows us some licks based on the half diminished arpeggio.

11:18 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

20

Major Pentatonic Over the Blues

Players like BB King and Derek Trucks mastered playing the major scale over a traditional blues progression. In this lesson Artur shows you how to integrate this into your playing.

10:25 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

21

Minor Pentatonic Runs

This lesson is all about an easy but important exercise meant to connect all of the minor pentatonic shapes. Artur also gives us some fast pentatonic runs to help with our speed and dexterity.

6:53 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

22

Minor Pentatonic Plus the Sharp 4

Instead of thinking modally, Artur is the type of player that likes to think: Minor Pentatonic + Target notes. In this lesson, he shows us some licks using the minor pentatonic, plus the sharp 4.

7:19 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

23

Minor Pentatonic Plus the Major 3rd

The minor pentatonic plus the major 3rd is the subject of this lesson. Get ready to add a major flavor to your tonality!

6:59 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

24

Minor Pentatonic Plus the Major 6

More flavors to add to your playing - Adding the major 6 to the minor pentatonic scale gives that "dorian" sound!

5:06 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

25

Minor Pentatonic Plus the Major 9

Adding the major 9 flavor to your minor pentatonic scale licks will give you a more modern sound. Join Artur as he explores this latest addition.

4:55 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

26

Altered Scale Licks Over the Changes

Using the altered scale in just the right spot can start suggesting jazz tonality in your blues playing. In this lesson, Artur shows us the scale and how and where to use it!

8:27 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

27

Dominant Diminished Scale Licks

Dominant diminished. Yet another scale that takes you into new territory, tonally speaking. Artur gives us some cool licks to use with this very unique scale.

8:33 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

28

Chromatic Licks

Using chromaticism is an easy way to add a more modern approach and tonality. Artur uses chromatic connecting points to show us this concept.

7:00 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

29

Minor Blues Licks

The minor blues is a foundational blues style that has it's roots deep in the genre. Artur talks about this feel and shows us some of his favorite minor blues licks.

7:52 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

30

Jazzy Swing Blues

The more we move towards jazz tonality, the more sophisticated our blues becomes. In this lesson Artur improvises over a song from his most recent album. Talk about a modern evolution! This is entering full on Jazz territory!

6:38 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

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